"Pint Of Punishment"
Watch Video First, Then Proceed.
“Doc’s back.” (Excerpt)
Book#1 Pauley's Retarded Children
Written By L.G. Flores
(Pauley’s Tavern and Pool Hall is where he sees her smile. She plays with the best of 'em, but she rather share a drink with him… Always in the corner, away from all the fuss; they sit across from each other quietly anticipating what doesn't get said.... yet she smiles anyway)
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November 8, 1978
9:22pm
The Iron Horse Shoe Tavern
He pulls in to the parking lot and recognizes cars belonging to the other regulars, but not many. He looks around for David’s car, he didn’t see it, Doc turns off the engine of his motorcycle. He takes off his helmet and put it in his saddlebag.
He pulls open the heavy wooden door of The Tavern. He walks in and around him are some vaguely familiar faces, but so many new ones he’s never seen before. He looks around for David, no sign of him yet.
Doc gets in line to order a beer. Flintstone was sitting at the end of the bar and spots him. He leans in to whisper in to Lorraine’s ear. “Doc’s back.” She turns to see it is him then she whispers back in to Flintstone’s ear.
“You think we should tell him she’s here.”
“Might as well.” Flintstone gets off his seat and Lorraine unhooks her purse off the back of her stool and puts it on Flintstone’s to save his spot.
Doc made it to the bar; Pauley pauses with the sight of him then speaks. “It’s been a while son, I thought you were going to stay in __________.” Doc didn’t want to talk about it but Pauley you don’t shut your mouth with.
“I’m down here to take care of some things.”
“Ah, well stop by before you go back.”
“I will.”
“You in the mood for a pint of Guinness? On The House boy!”
“No Pauley! I’m jus…”
“One pint of Guinness right coming up.”
Doc knew what that meant, he’s expected to stay which wasn’t what he wanted but then again he wouldn’t have returned to The Tavern if he didn’t want to be there at least for a bit. Pauley pours Doc his on ‘The House’ pint and shouts at some drunken assholes before he returns.
“Here you go, now be a good boy and ask Lucy to play some Marty Robbins.”
“Pauley I am not putting on Marty Robbins.”
“LIKE HELL YOU’RE NOT!”
“Pauley please? I just stopped by for a beer.”
“Tough shit, you owe The House a song!”
Doc knows not to disobey and again he wouldn’t have returned if he knew he was risking the warm welcome.
“Yes Pauley I’ll put on your Marty Robbins. What fucking song?”
“Don’t take that tone with me boy! Whichever fucking song and I want you back up here when he starts singing for your next pint.”
“Yes Pauley, I’ll put on your fucking Marty Robbins.”
Doc turns around and standing in front of him was Flintstone that had a grin on his face, almost sadistic. Doc hangs his head but he couldn’t help smile.
“Howdy Doc!”
“Howdy you sick bastard!” They hug.
“So __________ didn’t do it for you?”
“It’s doing fine, I just came down to take care of some things.”
“What kind of things?”
“Things.”
“Ah… Guinness. Pauley put it on The House?”
“Yes.”
“So which Marty Robbins’ song he tell you to put on?”
“He told me to pick.”
“Really? Damn he’s really happy to see you!”
“Yes I know and I’ll be in The Tank by the end of the night.”
“What did you fucking expect? You leave town hardly saying a goodbye all because David…”
“Don’t fucking say that cocksucker’s name!”
“David.”
“Flintstone, you want me to hit you?”
“Fine. She’s here you know.”
“She who?” Flintstone looks at his friend.
“You forget her name already?” Doc didn’t but he rather he did, especially since she almost chased him to _________ to beg him to return.
“Is that piece of shit here?”
“No.”
“I got to put on Marty Robbins before Pauley points Grace at me again.”
“That was fucking hilarious Doc, I thought you shit your pants when he did that!” Flintstone laughs.
“I almost did, fucking crazy old man!”
“It’s because he likes you.”
“I rather a rabid dog like me.”
“Whatever, go put on Marty Robbins.”
Doc walks through the crowd and some that recognized him but weren’t close, were in awe as he felt eyes being on him. He already feels there is going to be a scene. Sebastian goes up to him with a tipsy smile.
“Am I drunk seeing ghosts or is it really you?”
“It’s me.”
“How the fuck are you!?!”
“I’m drinking Guinness.”
“On The House?”
“Yea.” Doc says with knowing dread.
“Aw man I’m sorry, well at least we’ll be rack mates in The Tank tonight, I got my first pint on The House too!”
“What did you do?”
“I was a week late paying off my tab.”
“You do it on purpose?”
“YES!”
“Fucking dick. What Marty song you play?”
“Saddle Tramp”. Hey “Running Gun” and “They’re Hanging Me Tonight” are the only songs left if you don’t want The Double.”
“ARE YOU FUCKING SERIOUS!?! AW SHIT!!!” Sebastian laughs hard almost spilling his 8th pint of Guinness and committing beer abuse.
“You’re fucked man! And she’s here you know. They are so going to make you two dance.”
“I hate you.”
“Hey I’m not the one that…”
“I know the story, I don’t need to be reminded.”
“You made her cry and that was just wrong.”
“I didn’t ask her to… fuck this; I got to put on Marty before I get The Bell rung on me.”
Just as Doc said that he heard the sound of that brass. The Bell is rung and all the sounds of The Tavern with chatter and pool balls hitting each other stop. Pauley has everyone’s attention and Doc looks for a place to hide.
“I DON’T HEAR LUCY PLAYING MY MARTY ROBBINS!!!”
Lucy quickly gets unplugged and then plugged back in. Some lookie-loo and others mind their business but get a laugh out of it. Doc walks up to Lucy and chugs half of his Guinness. He reaches in to his pocket for change.
{Running Gun or They’re Hanging Me Tonight?} he asks himself. He debates which one would be less painful.
The Bell gets rung as a warning to hurry up. Doc rushes to put in the quarters and flips through Lucy’s pages quickly to land on Marty Robbins. He presses the buttons. A few seconds pass and “Running Gun” begins to play.
Play Video For Soundtrack
There are few songs the regulars that get comped their first of what is known as a ‘Pint Of Punishment’ avoid, and those two are among them. Doc chugs the rest of his pint of Guinness and drags his feet back to the bar. Flintstone meets him to wait along and pats him on the back.
“He’s only fucking with you to get you to relax.”
Doc knows but it is difficult for him to relax knowing he’ll see her and she’ll want to talk.
He knows she was a nice girl and sweet. He didn’t mean to hurt her but she’s the one that wanted more than what he wanted to give and they were just friends. But David was always jealous and fucking her up with the same old shit.
She didn’t deserve how he treated her but…
Doc prepares himself for whatever Pauley is going to pull on him. Flintstone continues.
“He’s doing Irish Car Bombs tonight.”
Doc lightens up. He likes Irish Car Bombs though The Four Horsemen wouldn’t have been so bad. Visiting with Jack, Jim, Johnnie and Jose and then damning them straight back to Hell can be enjoyable.
“Doc, we’ve been friends for some time and I don’t blame you for leaving, but she cared about you and you didn’t turn her away.”
“I know but I wasn’t expecting what she did and it was just a date she asked me out on.”
“I know man, I know, but you should have made something up if you weren’t interested to let her down easy, especially since David…”
“Don’t fucking say his name.”
“Hey man, after you left and he came back, he did it again.”
“What she do?”
“She walked away, then Lorraine threw her drink in his face and he puffed up.”
“She did that?”
“Yeah, the girls seen she was finally done and wasn’t going to make excuses for him anymore. Then us guys got in his face but we knew he was going to try something.”
“What happened?”
“Pauley asked her to stay and banned David.”
“That’s it? He left her alone?”
“It took a bit and we went with her back to their house that night. He knew if he did anything to her after, he would lose his job at the police department and you know how he owed everybody, and his knee caps would have been broken or toes cut off, fucking idiot.”
“So he’s left her alone?”
“Yeah. We helped her move out, but she had to stay here a while so she could save up to get a little apartment.”
“She stayed here by hrself?”
“Yes. Pauley wasn’t going to let her hit the streets. Fucking Jewels was after her, trying to turn her out.”
“What?” That struck a nerve. Yes Doc didn’t want what she asked of him and it wasn’t his problem, but he didn’t want her to end up working the streets. It was his turn at the bar.
“Ah ‘Running Gun’, good choice and quite ironic wouldn’t you agree boy?”
“Pauley, please don’t toy with me.”
“I’ll do what I’ll damn well please in my Tavern! Keys.” Doc hands his keys over to Pauley.
“Flintstone frisk him.”
“Spread ‘em Doc!”
“You’re an asshole and you better not get too happy touching my nuts!”
“Hey just doing what the old man said.” Flintstone pulls out a switchblade from his back pocket and a chain he had inside his leather jacket.
“You want his wallet too Pauley?”
“Yeah, I’ll put it in the safe since YOU will be spending the night.” Directing this to Doc.
“Pauley I got somewhere to be later.”
“Then you shouldn’t have come!”
“He’s got you there.” Flintstone adds.
“Fine, who’s cooking breakfast?”
“I am!” Flintstone exclaims.
“NO! I AM NOT STAYING IF HE’S COOKING!!!”
“I’m fucking with you. We’re not sure yet, but last I checked in the fridge the selection wasn’t too bad.”
“Now boy, start saying your first Hail Mary.” Pauley walks away to get the Jameson and the Baileys.
“Greeeat… PAULEY I’M NOT EVEN A FUCKING CATHOLIC!!!”
“Shush Doc or he’ll make you repent for not being one!”
Doc finally laughs. He knows for all the fucking rules and regulations, The Tavern is home for him too. Pauley returns with the two bottles and pours out the Jameson and Bailey’s in to a shot glass and Doc stares at it with a bit of disgust. Pauley then pours him another pint of Guinness.
“Hey Pauley make me a Car Bomb too!” Flintstone shouts out. “I can’t let you have all the fun.”
“Lorraine here too?”
“Yeah she’s driving.”
“How’s the baby?”
“Not much of a baby anymore, she’ll be two in a month.”
“Have I been gone that long?”
“YES!”
“Dang.”
“Did the time back in ______ do you good?”
“Yeah. It was a little rough at first.”
“Really, how?”
“I had to camp out, some days in the rain, when I wasn’t staying over at family’s or friends’....or motels.”
“How’s work up there?”
“It’s there, hate it but…”
“Alright boys, I got the stop watch, loser buys the next round.” Pauley had the drinks ready.
“Who’s buying this one?” Doc asks.
“Son, you really have been away too long.”
Flintstone grins again that sadistic grin. Doc forces himself to belch, preparing himself for that Irish Car Bomb. Flintstone cracks his neck and loosens up.
“Tell me when you are ready because you have a second to… START!”
Both Flintstone and Doc grab the shot glasses and drop them in the pints of Guinness. Both are good at opening up their throats and letting that heavy beer pour down around the shot glasses. Others around them watch on. After a few seconds the stop watch is stopped. Doc wins and Flintstone is now the one paying for another round of the same concoction.
“I got to take a leak man.” Flintstone says and then lets out a loud belch and a small one after.
He’s not walking straight but like he said, his wife Lorraine is driving them home. Doc moves out of the way after getting tapped on the shoulder by others that want to order their drinks. He stepped aside and turns to face the crowd. He looks for her hoping she has left and yet he wants to see her, but from a loooong, safe, far away distance.
The others that ordered their drinks left and Doc orders a plain pint of the dark stout. He’ll need some time before he races his friend again. He sees Lorraine and walks over to her. She had been watching him since he and her husband began to talk. She is glad to see his face again but she is still bothered by how he handled things with her friend.
“Hey stranger, missed us?” he smiles and she opens her arms to give him a hug.
“You gonna get my hubby plastered I see.”
“Just a little.”
“Fucking Doc.”
“How’s the munchkin?”
“Good, she’s potty training now. Are you staying down here for a while or taking off again without saying goodbye?”
“I’ll say goodbye.”
“You going to tell her too this time?” Doc takes a deep breath. “It was hard on her when you left, especially after all that happened between her and David.”
“Why does everyone keep saying his fucking name?”
“I would think if it didn’t matter how she felt, his name wouldn’t either.” Doc looks down at the light foam ring in his glass. Lorraine knows there is a bit of inner conflict going on in Doc’s head, perhaps in his heart too.
“You going to wait till you are drunk walking sideways and slurring before you talk with her, or you going to man up and do it before you end up in The Tank?”
“I don’t want to talk to her.”
“Then why did you come and risk running in to her?” he’s silent looking at that foam ring again. He takes a drink from his glass.
“Has she been okay?”
“It took a while, she had to work two jobs and stay here so she can save up some money.”
“I heard Jewels tried to…” he couldn’t finish his sentence.
“Yeah. He knew with her divorcing David, she needed money. She kept telling him no, but you know how Jewels insists.”
“How did he get off her back?”
“Pauley loan her money so she could move out of The Tavern. We all chipped in with getting her furniture and clothes besides food. She lost a lot of weight you know.”
“She did?”
“Yeah, she looked good for a while, but then too skinny. She was stressed and it took us a while to fatten her up again.”
“Did she do any drugs?”
“No but she prayed a lot.”
Doc feels something, he’s not sure what. Not exactly remorse since all he did was leave to do what he had to do for himself so he did nothing wrong. It was more like sympathy but then again her pride.
He knew or remembered at least, that sympathy shown towards her was close to an insult. Compassion, you could show her compassion but sympathy, it had to be when she wasn’t looking. Then this odd question he asks: “Is she with anyone?”
Lorraine tilts her head, and then tilts it back; sips from her glass of Chardonnay, places her glass back on its napkin, puts her hands flat on the bar, and then holds her glass of wine again.
“What makes you ask that?”
Doc scratches his head knowing he fucked up asking that.
“Well her not being with that asshole anymore, I figured by now she’d be with someone better.”
“She went out a few times, even had a rebound but she punched that schmuck in the nose when he wouldn’t get the hint she didn’t want him around since, well, he was schmuck.” Doc smiles.
“She really punched him?”
“Yeah he was a whiner just like David. That guy tried to shack up with her and oh was he annoying. She was going through some serious motions. Thankfully it only lasted a couple of months with him.”
“Oh.”
“But there are men that are interested; just none are what she’s looking for.” Doc wonders why she thought he was. He wonders why he wouldn’t be. He wonders why he is wondering.
“Okay dipshit, I’m back, let’s do this.”
Flintstone slaps Doc’s shoulder hard. It’s time for the next round of Irish Car Bombs. Doc had to let go of that wondering.
“Hey Pauley take the stop watch out, I’m buying my boy another!”
“It’s about fucking time.”
“Doc you are buying the next one.”
“Keep dreaming fucker but after this one, I’m done with the Car Bombs.”
“What!?! Oh I see how it is.”
“How is it?”
“It’s it!”
“It’s what?”
“What I said!”
“You’re fucking drunk.”
“DAMN STRAIGHT! PAULEY WE’RE WAITING!!!”
“ASSHOLE YOU WANT DETENTION!?!” He shouts back; that shut Flintstone quick. Pauley does just as before with the pint glasses filled almost to the brim with Guinness and the two shot glasses that were filled to there.
“On your marks. Get… START!”
Doc was slow to the draw and Flintstone was aiming to win and a few seconds later he does. Doc gags a bit making him taste the Bailey’s and he shakes, cringing. Flintstone celebrates, jumping up and down and others laugh seeing him excited.
Lorraine isn’t laughing since her husband will be obnoxious on the car ride back home, and then dealing with his belly aching in the morning about how he’ll never drink again because he’ll be so hung over. Yet she already knew to expect he would get shit faced, but at least his tongue will go the extra mile.
“Alright fucker you owe me and my wife a round!”
“Pauley get them what they want, I going to hit the head.”
Doc is feeling a bit flushed, he’ll need some time before he has another beer. He opens the men’s room door and sees Sebastian puking in one of the urinals that some other drunk puked in before him. His mouth waters and the stench makes him gag but he manages to hold it down.
He takes his leak and washes his hands since the lever to flush felt slimy, he could only imagine what that was. He looks in the mirror. He runs his wet fingers through his hair, and then takes out his comb.
He’s thinking about her. He hadn’t seen her close to a year and a half. He doesn’t know what to expect. He does a final check, rinses out his mouth, and then turns off the water. Sebastian is still hurling.
Doc walks out of the men’s room and notices Lucy isn’t singing. He checks his pocket for change, he has enough and if he wants Lucy to sing some more, he can put a few more songs on his tab. He looks through the pages then stops at one for Frank Sinatra, he sees the titles and remembers singing a few of his when he was lit, but one song stands out, “Moon River”. He decides to let Lucy rest.
He returns to the bar for a beer. He thinks if he should mix a lighter one with the stout he’s had and then figures he can have a Black and Tan in his stomach with a pint of Bass. He waits in line. It’s his turn.
“Another Guinness boy?” Pauley asks.
“No, I don’t want to end up like Sebastian throwing up in the urinal.”
“Aw that sonabich can’t drink worth a shit! What will you be having then?”
“A Bass.”
“By itself or you want a Black and Tan?” Doc laughs being he thought that already.
“Just a Bass.”
“Pacing yourself?”
“Yes Pauley. Also put me down for a pack of Lucky’s.”
Pauley leaves to get the cigarettes first and places them on the bar with a book of matches. Doc opens the pack and stuffs the trash in one of the empty cocktail glasses that Pauley hasn’t put in the sink yet. He pulls one out and lights it.
His thoughts are on the dance Sebastian told him about. It wouldn’t be such a bad thing being he’s single again and she was a sweet girl. But what if she…? What if he…? Pauley returns with Doc’s pint of Bass.
Lucy by then began to sing Frankie Valley “Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You” He listens and takes the first sip of his Bass. He looks for Flintstone but he’s off somewhere.
Doc wanders off in to the crowd. He looks around and the song makes him feel like he should brace himself. Then there is the thunderous “I LOVE YOU BABY AND IF ITS QUITE ALRIGHT I NEED YOU BABY!” He tries to refocus.
He was just her friend, that’s it. Yes she would say things that made him feel special, but she made a lot of people feel special. The song changes and it is Frankie Valley and The Four Seasons doing “Hang On”, who the fuck is on a Frankie Valley kick?
“As I live and breathe, The Prodigal Son Returns!” it was Joshua.
“Hey Joshin’!”
“I thought I’d never see your ass around these parts again, how the fuck are you?” saying this shaking Doc’s hand.
“I’ve been well, how about you?”
“Good, very good. The shop has been keeping me busy, business has been great. Hey you passing through or sticking around a while? I could use a guy with your experience.”
“I don’t know Joshua.”
“What does _________ have you can’t find down here?”
“It’s not that, it’s…”
“You met someone.”
“Yes. No. I mean no.”
“Which one is it?”
“No.”
“Oh well Lily hasn’t met anyone either.”
Doc nods his head and takes back out his pack of Lucky’s. Joshua lights him with his Zippo and lights his Marlboro.
“Just go up and talk to her, she’s missed you a lot.”
“I don’t know.”
“She’s cool.” Doc tilts his head up to look at Joshua.
“You just saying that?”
“She’s done a lot of growing up since you left.” That’s when Bobby Darin pops off with “Dream Lover”,
“WHAT THE FUCK IS UP WITH THE SONGS TONIGHT!?!” Joshua was startled by that.
“What’s up your ass?”
“Nothing. So she’s quit with the little girl shit?”
“Leaving that dick helped.”
“Thank you!”
“For what?”
“Not saying his name.”
“What, David?”
“AAAARRRGGGHHH!!!”
“Yet again what is up your ass?”
“I keep hearing his name! You know I was so ready to shove a tire iron up his… it was bad enough his girl got it in her head she had feelings for me after she left him and then him trying to pick a fight.”
“She’s not a bad person to want to have feelings for you.”
“I know but…”
“Doc, she was going through a lot, you knew that.”
“I know but still.”
“Then why you say you’d go out on a date with her?”
“I don’t know, I was drunk.”
“No you weren’t. What happened was you became single and so did she, and she wanted to go out with someone that was nice to her unlike David. All she wanted was a nice night out with dinner she didn’t have to cook and a walk.”
“She wanted more than that.”
“I won’t argue there and that it was too soon, but you remember how David used to treat her don’t you?”
“It was too long ago.”
“Well then I’ll remind you.”
“Don’t.”
“Doc you may have keen eyesight when it comes to shooting at the O.K. Corral, but you are blind as a bat when it came to her.”
“What do you mean?”
“You didn’t notice when she started having a crush on you?”
“I take it you did.”
“Listen, what happened in the past happened in the past. You two were friends and she gave a fuck about you.”
“She gave too much of a fuck.”
“Unbelievable! Tell me something Doc.”
“What?”
“Why did you come back to Pauley’s if you didn’t want to see her?”
“I though she stopped coming around and I was in the mood for a beer.”
“I seen you play Pauley his Marty Robbins and drink two Irish Car Bombs.”
“You don’t say?”
“Well actually honey...” Joshua knocks Doc upside the head. “Dick, stop being a little p*ssy! I already know you got The Tank and she’ll see you before she leaves. How long are you going to duck her?”
“Who she come with?”
“The Beatles.” Doc glares at Joshua.
“She came with Maggie and Peter.”
“They’re not going to be happy to see me.”
“Can you blame them?”
“I didn’t know she was going to have a hissy that night.”
“She was running scared. Fine, you figure it out, I’m getting another drink, you want one?”
“Yeah.” Doc downs what was left of the Bass in his glass and follows Joshua back to the bar.
Doc looks straight ahead seeing the back of Joshua’s greasy head, he runs his fingers through his own grease. They are walking when something makes him turn his head. He spots her. He stops walking and looks at her, and then his view was blocked. He strains his neck trying to see above the heads but she’s blocked good.
“You coming?” Joshua asks.
“Yeah.”
They return to walking back to the bar but he keeps looking in the direction he seen her, Joshua notices. They make it up to the bar.
“Back to say a Hail Mary boy?”
“Pauley he’s saying Our Fathers now. Two PBR’s and two shots of Jim please.”
Joshua placing his order. Pauley leaves to get the cans of beer and the two shots.
“You seen Lily?”
Doc was trying to preoccupy his mind with other thoughts to avoid answering that question.
“Hellooo, Earth to Doc.”
“What?”
“She looks pretty in her dress doesn’t she and different hair color? I think Rita Hayworth every time I see her.”
“I didn’t see her.”
“You are such a liar. The girls gave her a makeover and got her out of the rags David had her in.”
“Don’t say that bastards name.”
“You do care, well isn’t that something.”
“It’s not like I didn’t but…”
“But what?”
“I don’t want to talk about it anymore.”
“Suit yourself.”
Pauley returns. Joshua passes Doc his can of PBR and taps cans with him. They take a swig.
“Now for good ole Jimmy.”
Joshua passes Doc one of the shot glasses and he downs the bourbon then places the shot glass back on the bar.
“You didn’t drink yours.” He tells Joshua.
“That one is for you too.”
Watch Movie Scene For Gunfight At The OK. Corral First, Then Continue....
“Why?”
“To get more liquid courage in you.”
“I’m not going to go talk to her.”
“Then why were you looking at her?”
“I just glanced.”
“You didn’t just glance. Fuck this; I’ll go talk to her then.”
“What? Wait, what are you going to tell her?”
“That you are here and that you don’t want to talk to her so she knows not to come up to try to talk with you.”
“Don’t do that!”
“Why?”
“It’s going to fuck up her night.”
“It’s going to get fucked anyway once she sees you and you won’t even say hello to the poor girl, especially after all the praying she’s done for you.”
“She prayed for me?”
“Why are you surprised?” Doc doesn’t know what to answer with.
“HEY PAULEY!” Pauley looks over at Joshua and Doc.
“WHAT?”
Doc answers Pauley “I want a Hail Mary and an Our Father for real.” Joshua smirks, standing behind Doc and Pauley sighs.
“You sure?”
“Yes!”
“About fucking time you became an altar boy!”
Pauley’s walks to the end of the bar to get the step ladder and unfolds it and climbs up to get the bottle of white lightning off the top shelf, Doc chugs his can of PBR. Pauley steps down with it. He pulls out two rock glasses and fills them with ice. He also pulls out the special shaker inscribed with both prayers and fills it with ice as well, then the white lightning. Those at the bar that seen Pauley reach for the ass kicker, turn to see who’s going to be saying confession. Joshua drinks his beer and Doc, he’s just looking on as do the rest.
Pauley pours out the ice from the glasses and pours in the chilled white lightning. In one he pours a splash of grenadine for "the blood of God’s only begotten Son"; and in the other a splash of brine from the jar of cocktail onions for the tears of Holy Mother Mary. Pauley takes both glasses and places them in front of Doc. Pauley then proceeds to say what pretty much a drunk’s grace is:
“Dear Lord our Father and Mary, Mother of God who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy names; please bless this lost lamb that will need your guidance finding the door out this humble Tavern. We ask that he be forgiven for the sins he will commit after this Water of Fire hits his head. May Hell have mercy on his soul when the bile spews ferociously from the pit of his belly in to the putrid hole of The Damned. And bless him in the morning after he awakes and knows not why his clothes are missing. In the name of The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirits…” and those witnessing join Pauley in saying “AMEN!”
They look on as Doc stares at the two drinks in front of him. He turns to Joshua “Why am I doing this again?”
“Fucked if I know, I told you to go talk to her when it was just a beer and two shots of bourbon.”
“Don’t get chicken shit on me boy, you asked for it, NOW DRINK!” Pauley commands. Doc crosses his chest and reaches for Our Father first but Joshua stops him.
“You’ll want the sweet to take the taste from the onions out.”
“Yeah that’s right.”
He’s still staring at the drinks. Doc lifts up the glass of Tears first and braces himself. He breathes rapidly then holds his breath and then exhales. He takes a deep, slow breath then releases it slowly… He gulps The Tears down and flinches. Doc looks up at Joshua and Joshua looks back down at Doc.
“Now for The Blood.”
Those at the bar still looking on while the rest of The Tavern are unaware including her, that Doc’s ass is going to be nailed to the floor once that shit hits him. Doc crosses his chest as do others along with him for moral support. He gulps feeling the burn in his chest but he did ask for it. He lifts The Blood glass and drinks it down. There is a round of applause and Pauley takes both rock glasses and places them in the sink to wash.
”So you converted Doc, how does it feel?” Joshua asks his friend.
“Like I’ll need an exorcism.”
“Give it a few minutes to at least get your money’s worth.”
“Yeah.” Joshua takes Doc by the arm and guides him off the high bar stool to take him outside the front door to where he’s going to throw up away from everyone, this to Doc’s relief.
The two walk through the front door way. Joshua holding on to his friend walks him to the puking spot when it is preferred to be discrete; no one has puked there yet. He takes off his friend’s leather jacket and lays it behind him. Doc is drunk but not wasted; he will spend the night in The Tank because all he drank will hit him and hit him hard but for now, he is coherent, well for the most part.
The Hail Mary and Our Father were kicking in and not going to wait to do that exorcism.
Joshua holds on to Doc by his belt and shoulder. Doc sticks his middle and index finger down his throat to start purging. It takes a few seconds but what he drank does come up. Joshua being a Pauley’s veteran isn’t fazed. He looks away and focuses on the night sky and all the stars above them, but more so the moon.
Doc stops for a few moments and Joshua looks down but Doc wasn’t done yet. After 3 more minutes, he was. Joshua pulls Doc away from his vomit and walks him towards the cinder block wall to sit him against it but not before he pulls Doc’s bandana out of his back pocket and hands it to him. He wipes his mouth. With his legs bent, he rests his forearms on his knees; Joshua went to get his jacket.
“You okay?”
“Yeah, just thirsty.”
“We’ll get you some ice water in a bit.”
“Thank you.”
Joshua takes out his pack of Marlboros and lights up. “The smell bothering you?” he asks standing a few feet away in front of him.
“No, I’m cool.” Joshua flicks the ash making the white ash still attached to the lit end glow with the ember. The smoke curves upwards as it smolders; Joshua takes another drag, inhales and then he exhales. He speaks.
“So what was that all about?” Doc is hanging his head now.
“I don’t know.”
“She just wanted to care more about you.”
“I know.” There is a pause. Doc speaks. “I wasn’t sure you know?”
“I don’t know.”
Doc holds his forehead with his right hand with his thumb at his temple, his index finger pointed upward and his other fingers on the bridge of his nose.
“How could she feel that way about me? We were friends but not really Joshua.”
“You were safe to her because she only seen the good in you. It was what you showed her.”
“How you know?”
“Because I was there to listen as did the rest of us that cared about her. She knew it was irrational but she needed time to understand that. A lot happened after you left. Jason, she wanted someone to be her hero, you can’t blame her after everything David did to her.”
“But why me?”
“Why not you?”
“What could I have offered her that another guy couldn’t?”
“Your patience.”
“She picked the wrong guy.”
“That’s true, you can be an impatient prick sometimes.”
“Thanks Josh, thanks a lot.”
“Just fucking with you… Are you still going to avoid her after all the theatrics?”
Jason is quiet with a slight ache behind his eyes; this was from him throwing up.“Jason why did you ask for a Hail Mary and an Our Father, you don’t like praying from what I remember all the years I have known you.”
“It doesn’t mean I don’t.”
“What did you pray for besides the shit coming out of your mouth to empty out?”
“I’m not sure.”
“Joshua is he okay?” he turns around to see Lorraine walking towards them with a glass of water. Standing next to him, he looks like a giant, all 6’7” of him.
“He’ll survive. Has she left yet?”
“No, she was out back playing ping pong for dinners. So far she’s won 3 meals.” Joshua looks down at Jason.
“Hey maybe if you’re lucky she’ll spare you one of them.”
“Oh I brought crackers too.”
“See Doc, you don’t have to go to church to get one of those wafers.”
Lorraine helps hold Jason’s glass as he takes a drink, and then places it next to him, Joshua continues to smoke.
“You think you can handle eating one of these?”
“Yea.”
Lorraine opens the wrapper and takes one of the saltine crackers out.
“Thank you.”
She stands up. “Joshin’, Fred and I are going home.”
“Alright hon, I’ll see you soon.”
They hug and Lorraine leaves to get Flintstone with the help of some of the guys to put him in their car since he’s having too much fun to want to go. She’s not looking forward to the drive home but then again her husband can be amusing.
Joshua and Jason are by themselves again. Joshua finishes his cigarette and flicks the butt clearing a couple of yards. “I’m going back inside.” He begins to walk away then shouts with his back turned to Jason.
“Make those drinks count Doc!”
Jason breathes; he focuses on breathing, drinking his water and settling his stomach with the saltines.
He’s sitting and thinking of Lily and how she was kind. He thinks of her no good husband that would scream at her in the parking lot when he got drunk, he could only imagine how it was back home; then there was the time she had bruises around her wrists and up her arms.
She insisted he didn’t hit her that she got them from moving things cleaning out their garage. Why didn’t he do it? Why did he let his wife that was so small compared to him do heavy work? Why did he make her cry so much?
She’s a good woman, she did all the things that a wife would do for the lucky bastard that got her to marry him. He was just a bastard.
Jason didn’t say no to that date she asked him out on because he was curious to know what it was like to spend time with her alone, away from everyone, away from The Tavern; but that night, that fucking night. Jason sits drinks and eats. After 20 minutes, he stands up. He had to piss again and marks the wall not too far from where he threw up.
In the morning he’ll have to hose it down. It was known he went there to be sick and if it wasn’t, Joshua would have said something and a fee added to Jason's tab if he didn’t. He thinks of how much that tab is going to be, he wonders how much would be left for him to return to ________ gas money wise. He’ll eat light till he’s back.
The job offer Joshua made begins to appeal but that means for sure he has to settle things with her. He pours some of the water over his head, runs his fingers though his hair and dries his face with his bandana. It was time he returns the empty glass.
Doc picks up his leather jacket. He hangs it over his arm and walks with the empty glass back to The Tavern. Along the way he stops to look up at the moonlit sky along with its infinity of stars.
He remembers one night when he and she sat next to each other on the short brick wall of the raised bed in front of the bushes with the multicolored, diamond paned windows behind them.
They weren’t alone but he remembers how lovely she looked as she was gazing up at the sky. He remembered her smile, she looked like a little girl pixie making wishes on all the stars she seen.
He remembers her dancing with Maggie like it was a waltz. He remembers Peter looking at his wife Maggie, adoring her. David was busy placing and losing bets inside so she only had Maggie to dance with.
David would throw a fit if she danced with another man and take it out on her when she wasn’t surrounded by friends; but that night he remembers he cut in and danced for a stolen moment with her, but she pulled away when the heavy wooden door opened. It was best she danced with Maggie or one of the other girls.
David wouldn’t dance with her. So many times he had seen her sitting by herself at the booth while all the other couples danced. He just wouldn’t dance with his wife. Doc wonders again…
He pulls open the heavy wooden door and walks to the bar to ask for a refill of water. Joshua he didn’t see. Sebastian was already passed out on one of the racks in The Tank. Flintstone and Lorraine had left, there wasn’t anyone to talk with that was his friend.
“Pauley I want to put my jacket in The Tank.”
“Good, claim your rack early, follow me.”
Doc follows Pauley through the hallway so he can claim one of the racks. Sebastian was the only drunk in there and he was in a fetal position covered with an Army surplus wool blanket. Doc remembers the times he had to sleep it off in that room. It hadn’t change in the year and a half since he’s been gone. He chooses the bottom bunk that he slept in each time.
“You want to keep drinking or are you ready to sober up boy?”
“I haven’t decided yet.”
“Figure it out, I got assholes to serve.”
Pauley leaves Doc that was sitting on the bed. He decides to lie down and stare at the wire coils of the bed above him. He closes his eyes. He begins to nod off but fights it; he ends up losing that fight. He didn’t sleep long and what began to form in to a dream where he wanted to talk but she wouldn’t talk with him, left him thinking. He wakes up slowly from that dream, he’s still drunk. He saw that Sebastian was sitting up in a slight stupor.
“Sebastian!”
“Hey Doc, you made It!”
“Yeah, how are you doing?”
“I’m not sure. Hey you two talk yet?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t know what to say.”
“Hello is a good way to start.”
“Yea… but I don’t know what to say after.”
“Ask her how she’s been?”
“It would be better if I didn’t.”
“Are you ever going to forgive her?”
“It’s not that.”
“Then what is it?”
“I don’t want her to get attached again.”
“Is that it? Doc she won’t get attached, you’re going to take off again and she’ll go on without you.”
“You know why does everybody keep telling me to talk to her?”
“Because it’s the least you could do.”
“How is it the least?”
“I don’t know.”
“You’re drunk.”
“Aren’t you too? Whatever, you had your chance. Fuck I got to pee!”
Sebastian makes it to the small restroom and pees for a while leaving Doc by himself thinking more. He does want to say hello but if he does, never mind; he lies back down. What does _________ have he can’t find down here?
He’s got a job offer fixing motorcycles, that’s something. He has The Tavern for bad days. He’s got friends here still, but the buzzkill is that she’s here. Maybe she did grow up. That dick David isn’t a problem anymore, but that fucking night she got down on her knees trembling and begging. It’s going to be the same all over or is it?
Sebastian returns and make some coffee. He scoops out the coffee grounds and plugs the electric percolator.
“You want a cup Doc?”
“No, I’m getting another beer.” Doc sits up from the bottom bunk and puts his boots back on. He goes to the restroom and splashes his face. He leaves The Tank. He decides he’ll say hello to her and then return to The Tank, that he could do.
Doc finds his way out. The crowd wasn’t as big meaning he could see her. She does look lovely in her dress and her hair wasn’t in a bun, he wonders if he’ll get close enough to smell it. She was now at the pool table with Maggie and Peter. He walks in her direction.
He wants to turn around. He began to walk away but then seen Joshua with arms folded giving him a knowing look. Fuck it. He walks turns around and commits to saying hello at least, but if she starts in again with those old feelings, he’ll have to return to The Tank.
With every step he takes towards her, he feels nervous, she’s never looked as pretty as she does right now. Her not quite I Love Lucy red hair was longer than what he remembered. Her white dress with the yellow flower boarder, shows her legs and she’s in high heels now. She’s wearing earrings and her makeup added to her glamor. She looks like a woman, perhaps her confidence has found her.
He walks up gingerly behind her, Maggie and Peter had their backs to him. He wonders if they will tell him off again. He risks it.
“Hello.”
He says to her after he gets her attention from brushing her arm where it was bare. Her skin felt warm and soft as he imagined when he thought of her earlier. She turned around smiling from what she had been listening to the joking of the others she was with but when she sees his face; her smile left.
Her lips part and he can see her breathe in. The expression on her face is much like his. Eyes widen for a second then eyelids blinking. Eyebrows rose. Eyes filled with hope from a time past but also caution. Maggie recognizes his voice and turns around too. She isn’t happy seeing his face again, Peter notices his wife was looking at someone with seriousness, he turns around too and like his wife, he isn’t happy to see his face either. Lily replies. “Hello.”
“How are you?” he asks.
“I’m well, how are you Jason?”
“I’m well… can we go somewhere to talk?”
“You want to talk?”
“Yes, it’s been a while.”
Lily turns to look at Maggie and Peter not knowing what to do.
”Lily there is nothing to say to him.” Peter tells her. Lily considers that, but there is.
“Okay.”
Maggie shakes her head side to side to say no to her, to not leave. Peter is ready to get in Jason’s face. Lily felt there won’t be any harm in speaking to him again.
(To Be Continued….)
Pauley's "Pint Of Punishment" or what is also known as Pauley's "POP" as in he'll pop you in the face if he doesn't hear his Marty Robbins singing before the atonement of spending the night in "The Tank" and braving what is made for breakfast the next day.
In other words, you're expected to stay and get sloshed, and have a safe place to crash out while your ride is put in the gated area of the parking lot that has barb wire around it. Wallets are kept in the safe, honor system does apply.
In the morning after a lot of coffee is brewed if not bloody mary's served, the ones that got "Tanked" help tidy up the Tavern, especially where other drunks hurled. Some patrons have stayed in The Tanks days in a row not leaving the Tavern because they enjoy getting "Popped" that much.
It's a tradition to keep the tank open instead of letting drunks drive home, or at least the drunks that would fail a sobriety test even if they were driving by braille.
The Tank has also been a place to have a roof over your head if you're in a bind, as it was with Lily that was considered brave for spending the night alone with the spirits that like to hang out with spirits.
It was better her chilling with ghosts that tend to like the regulars, especially the females; than allow the local pimp to turn another vulnerable woman/girl in to a sex slave prostitute he strings out and mind fucks in to submission if not will beat a woman in to it. If she gets caught making a run for it, he's known to cut up a pretty face to leave behind scars as his parting gift.
Lily was lucky she made friends with others that cared about her well being and helped her out before she was pressured out of desperation to do what no one should do in order to survive; it's even tougher when there are little mouths to feed.
She only had hers to worry about thank God and all up in Heaven. There's more to this flashback piece and it is cryptic as fuck! Just ask folks who they are named after and how they play in the grand scheme of things that even I'm taking notes on, and I'm the author!
This piece was written a Saturday going in to Sunday, all night and I really felt like I was listening to divine inspiration. The "Pint Of Punishment", "The Tank" and the blasphemous drunkard's grace for the two white lightning drinks, all created that same night.
And when Joshua tells Doc that is named after Doc Holiday aka Jason, that Lily came with the Beatles, I had just typed that and a YouTube music mix I was listening to started playing The Beatles. I got a kick out of that synchronicity. ~L.G.